A Vermont man is accused of stabbing a woman to death in a New Hampshire hotel.

Dr. Catherine "Kitty" Houghton, 70, was stabbed multiple times in the lobby of the Hampton Inn in Littleton. Police were called to the hotel about 8:50 p.m. Monday and found Houghton inside with stab wounds. She was taken to Littleton Regional Hospital, where she died of her injuries.

Hill was charged Tuesday afternoon with two counts of second-degree murder. Investigators are unsure whether Hill was also a guest at the hotel.

Houghton, who called California home, was a trustee at the White Mountain School in Bethlehem, N.H. She spoke at the school's commencement in 2011.

“She will be remembered for her kindness, her keen intellect, her love of music and her adventurous spirit,” said Timothy Breen, Ph.D., the head of school.

Houghton was a graduate of the boarding school and was there for a meeting Monday night. She had a Ph.D. in linguistics and spoke 14 languages. She was also an avid traveler and pilot and had a decades-long career working for the U.S. Foreign Service.

“From her work in the Peace Corps, to her professional career with the U.S. Foreign Service, to her countless hours of volunteer service, she touched many through her words, her actions and her deeds,” Breen said.

Investigators said they believe the attack was random.

“We’re in the very early stages of trying to determine just that,” said Sr. Asst. Attorney General Susan Morrell. “What was their relationship? What was the motive? I cannot comment too much on that right at this time, however we don't believe they knew each other. We believe it was a random act.”

Houghton planned to stay at the hotel through Tuesday so she could rehearse with the school’s choir.

Monday night’s stabbing marks the first homicide in Littleton since 1999.